Mesa Boogie Stiletto Ace Head

The Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Ace is a different take on the Stage II Stiletto series. It features a different transformer inside of it which helps give it a different character. It is a 50 watt EL34 amp with two totally independent channels, multiple voicing switches, an effects loop, a variac switch, a line out and tons more features.

UTILIZATION

Mesa did a great job with packing everything into this amp. Although the biggest difference comes from the different transformer, it actually makes quite a difference. I'll get to that later. The amp uses high quality parts to ensure awesome reliability, so you'll never have to worry about breaking it when touring. The manual helps describe what everything on this amp does, how each control interacts with each others, suggested ways of dialing in the amp and so on. Mesa really has some of the best manuals on the market. It's a bit easier to get a good sound out of this vs the Rectifier or Mark series, I've found.

SOUNDS

The sound of this is pretty awesome. It has that almost modded Marshall feel but with a Mesa vibe. It can really scream, especially if you boost it. You can get that old school John Sykes tone or that Andy Timmons tone with this no problem. In fact, Andy Timmons uses this very amp. The cleans are nice on this, too. It has that old school British kinda tone going on in spades.

OVERALL OPINION

If you're looking for Mesa's take on a modded Marshall, this is the amp you'll probably be most interested in. Despite it being only 50 watts, it really screams. In fact, I find that helps make it sound a bit more "brown" than the other ones. It's packed full of features for just about any tone you can think of. Those of you who are full blown metal heads might not be a huge fan of this, but for that 80s rock/metal kinda tone, this amp can really deliver.

Lamps, EL34, 50W, 4 outputs and 8 ohms for subwoofer, loop, footswitch output facade.

UTILIZATION

A little bit "confusing" at first only at the "bold" or "spongy" because the selector is the same as to turn the amp (off center, left, bold, spongy right or vice versa).
After this difficult choice, the choice of channel is very simple on the front and the type of sound to choose (3 on channel 1, 2 on 2). Front clear, no frills: master of the canal, presence, bass, middle, treble, gain.
To the rear, it's the same, the loop with level, choice of output for your subwoofer, fuse, bypass loop. Small black dot but nothing serious, you can not unplug the power cord. It is directly connected to the output transformer.

SOUNDS

I play rock (preferably American) is a great amp. Clearly, channel 1 is a killer because he is not aggressive at all in terms of equalization. Except to the treble and presence to the bottom, we can not have one that's screaming hard eardrums. It has a clean correct, that suits me well for what I can do.
The raw mode and the next are great because we are in the JCM800 but sounds more modern, US, exactly where I want to go.
Channel 2 is really great too. Ditto, we find the leg JCM800 but also modern, with more gain. I think the amp sounds more to my taste in "Titus" but the other mode is also very nice, a bit more compressed.

It does not have this side "low end" which takes the lead. Here you type battery where it is needed when playing the guitar, the lower medium. Do not expect to replace your head with the bass player. With the Stiletto's "each in his place" in terms of frequencies. But do not worry, we can largely break the gam with! : O)

I could try it with my LP Custom. I will try to complete this test with a Start and Tele in a short time.

OVERALL OPINION

Tested yesterday, bought right away. I went to the shop with two amps in mind: the one and a Diezel Einstein. On paper, the Einstein appealed to me more but when I plugged the Stiletto, I found what I expected: a JCM 800 Marshall without the side! : O)
In fact, I found what I had just a few years with my Soldano Avenger and I sold (and I regret).
I was fortunate to be able to leave a DSL50 and Rockerverb 50 in exchange for this amp. For those familiar with these amps, it will tell you can be. The Rockerverb 50 isa monster but more low-end, more fat, the DSL is "anecdotal" in comparing the two.

Great opportunity, I find the correct price but again, it was a deal with the shop so I have not felt pass.

Time will tell if I'm really happy I do not be disappointed!